Ash receiver



Nov. 12, 1940';

2 E. F. MCDONALD ASH RECEIVER Filed March 24, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 2 Edward ,FTMcDonbZd,

Nov. 12, 1940.

E. F. MCDONALD ASH RECEIVER Filed March 24, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 12, 1940 UNITED STATES ASH RECEIVER Edward F. McDonald, Buffalo, N. Y., assignor to McDonald Products Corporation, Buifalo, N. Y.

Application March 24, 1938., Serial No. 197,894

9 Claims.

This invention relates to smokers appliances and particularly to an ash receiver.

The present invention provides an ash receiver of the same general type of construction as that 5 shown in Patent No. 2,067,406, patented January 12, 1937, with a different form of construction for mounting the actuating member for the plate sections.

The invention comprehends the provision of 10 movable and resilient supporting means for the actuating member directly connected to the receptacle and movable with the manual operation of the actuating member to engage and rock the plate sections into open position.

5 The invention also provides a support for the actuating member directly connected to the receptacle at the top portion thereof and arranged in relation to the upper edge of the receptacle that it will operate either individually or in con- 20 junction with the upper edge of the receptacle to support cigarettes, cigars and the like on the receptacle above the plate sections.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows the invention in perspective.

25 Fig. 2 is a plan view of the ash receiver showing the plate sections in open position with portions of the actuating member broken away to illustrate how it is mounted on its support.

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section taken on 30 line 33 of Fig. 2, the plate sections and the actuating member being shown in the normal position in which the plate sections are closed, and the clot and dash lines showing the actuating member, the support therefor and the plate sec- 35 tions in open position.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of an ash receiver showing a modified form of support for the actuating member.

Fig. 5 is a transverse section taken on line 55 4 Of Fig. 4:.

Fig. 6 is a plan view illustrating another form of support for the actuating member in the form of a coiled wire member.

Fig. 7 is a vertical cross section taken on line Fig. 8 is a plan View showing still another form of actuating member for the plate sections formed .to provide a smoke rest, and hingedly mounted on the receiver.

50 Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary cross section taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 shows the combined actuating member and smoke rest in perspective.

The ash receiver comprises a receptacle I 55 shown in the drawings as being of cylindrical form, closed at the bottom and open at the top. It is to be understood, that the receptacle may be of any desired shape and that the cylindrical form shown is for the purpose of illustration only.

A top member 2 formed of sheet metal is 5 mounted on the upper edge of receptacle l as clearly shown in Fig. 3. Top member 2 has an annular top flange 3 seated on the upper edge of receptacle l, a depending outer flange 4 embracing the outer upper edge of receptacle l and an inner 10 annular flange depending from the inner edge of top section 3 in inwardly spaced relation from the inner edge of the receptacle as shown in Fig.

3. The lower edge of inner flange '5 terminates in laterally and inwardly extending seats 6. Seats 6 do not extend entirely around the lower edge of flange 5 but at a pair of diametrically opposite points, seats 6 are omitted as indicated at I in Fig. 2.

A pair of plate sections 8 are arranged to provide a closure for the opening into the receptacle through the top member and in the form of the invention illustrated in the drawings, these plate sections are in semi-circular form, each having one straight edge arranged in abutting relation when the plate members are in their closed position, as illustrated in Fig. 1. In this closed position the plate members are in substantially coplanar relation so as to cooperate to close the opening in the top member. Projections 9 are formed on each plate section in parallel relation to the straight edge of the section and spaced therefrom about one-half inch as will be apparent from the illustration in Fig. 2. These projections extend through openings in the lower portion of flange Sthat are adjacent to the end of seats 6' so that the portions of each plate section extending from the projections 9 to the straight edge are arranged with respect to the top member to extend over the part I in which seat 6 has been omitted.

The axis on which each plate section rocks is therefore in spaced parallel relation to the axis of the other plate section and about one inch apart as clearly illustrated in the drawings and so arranged that when the plate sections are in co-planar relation the straight edges will abut one another and close the opening in the top member. With this spacing of the axes for the mounting of the plate sections for rocking movement, the'straight edges will move apart in the opening movement of the plate sections to the position shown in Fig. 2, so that cigarettes,'and the like, can fall into thereceptacle between the plate sections. Seats 6 are adapted to receive the intermediate portion of the semi-circular edge of plate sections 8 and support the plate sections in closed position as shown in Fig. 1, while the portion 1, where the seats are omitted, provides space for the inner adjacent edges of the plate sections to move about pivot projections 9 downwardly past the lower end of inner flange 5 as will be apparent from the dot and dash illustration of one of the plate sections in Fig. 3.

All of the foregoing construction is clearly disclosed in applicants prior patent mentioned above.

An actuating member or button I0 is provided for manual operation to engage and rock the plate sections on their pivots or projections 9 from closed into open position. For this purpose, actuating member Ill, as shown in Figs. 1 to 3, comprises a disc of any suitable material having a diameter equal to or slightly greater than the distance between the plane of projections 9 on the respective plate sections so that when actuating member I0 is manually actuated by pushing on the top thereof to move downwardly toward the bottom of the receptacle, it will engage and rock plate sections 8 on pivots 9 into the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3. By reason of the diameter of the actuating member being greater than the distance between the pivots of plate sections 8, it will not pass downwardly below the horizontal plane of pivots 9. As a result, the plate sections in being operated into the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3, for example, by actuating member II! will also provide a means through their mounting in top member 3 to limit the downward movement of actuating member Ill.

Actuating member I!) is independent of connection with closure sections 8, as distinguished from the aforementioned patent, and in the present invention is mounted on a resilient or flexible wire or strip II. One end of support II is fastened to flange 5 as indicated in Fig. 3 at I2, by having the support extend through an opening in flange 5 and then bent laterally against the inner face of the flange and soldered, or otherwise secured thereto. This rigidly supports member II on top member 2 at one end, while the opposite end is engaged in an opening in actuating member II) as shown by the fragmentary section in Fig. 2, and indicated at I3.

As illustrated, the free end of member II is provided with a return bend portion engaging in the opening in actuating member ID in the central portion thereof. Actuating member ID is rigidly held on the end of member II against rotation thereon, or removal therefrom, by the structure shown with the aid of glue, or other adhesive cement, or the like, that is suitable for rigidly securing member ID to the end of support II. Support II will be formed of suitable flexible or resilient material in the form of a wire, rod or strip that will normally assume the position shown in Figs, 1 and 3, but is flexible and resilient so that upon manual depression of actuating member II! it can be moved downwardly to actuate plate sections 8 so as to move them into the open position.

Upon release of manual pressure upon actuating member ID the resiliency of member II will cause it to resume its normal position as shown in Fig. 1 wherein it supports actuating member ID above plate sections 8, so they may move into closed position. The lower side of member II as illustrated in Fig. 1 is provided with a flat face I4 arranged in opposed relation to the upper face of sections 8 in order to provide for movement of plate sections 8 into open position through movement of actuating member I!) with less downward movement thereof than would be necessary were member Ill of complete annular form.

Actuating member Ill may be of any desired shape such as a sphere, spheroid, polyhedron, or any other suitable type of object to simulate animals, birds or in just the form of an abstract object of irregular form. The size of the object in whatever form is adopted will be made so that it will have a dimension extending perpendicular to the plane of rocking movement of plate sections 8 that will be equal to or slightly greater than the distance between pivots 9 for these plate sections. This size is not entirely necessary but is preferable for the purpose of the invention.

Actuating member ID is directly supported in the open upper end of receptacle I through the medium of top member 2 in a position poised above plate sections 8, with its lower edge in close adjacent relation to the upper adjacent portions of both plate sections 8. The position of member I0 with respect to the upper edge of receptacle I, or the distance it is spaced away from the adjacent portion of top section 2, is only dependent upon the character of supporting member used in order that member It can be manually moved to actuate plate sections 8. Therefore, any convenient position between the edges of the receptacle for securing the operation of plate sections 8 is contemplated by the invention where a resilient or movable support for the actuating member is provided.

Figs. 4 and 5 in illustrating a modified form of support for the acuating member, show an actuating member l5 similar to member Ill, mounted in the central portion of the opening in the container over top sections 2. port for actuating member I5 in Figs. 4 and 5, is in the form of a pair of resilient wires I6 having the central portions extending through member I5 and suitably anchored thereto in adjacent relation, while the opposite ends curve outwardly away from each other in a substantially horizontal plane and extend through spaced openings in flange 5 of top section 2 and terminate in depending ends II. Ends I! and the portions of wires I6 forming the supporting member for actuating member l5, are not secured to inner flange 5, but are slidable in the openings so that as actuating member I5 is depressed the ends can slide back and forth to the limited extent necessary to provide for the normal operation of actuating member I5 to operate plate sections 8 in the same manner described in connection with the form of invention shown in Figs. 1 to 3. In this form of the invention, the supporting members used may be in the form of a pair of wires or fiat resilient or flexible strips of such a nature that they normally assume a position in which they will elevate actuating member I5 to the position shown in Figs. 4 and 5, and normally support the actuating member in position ready for manual depression to engage and rock plate sections 8. into open position. These supporting wires I6 also form a convenient rest in cooperation with top member 2 to support cigarettes and cigars on top of the receptacle. The lighted end of a cigarette, for example, may be extended transversely across wire It or at an acute angle thereto. and the opposite end may rest. upon.a portion of the top member in a man- The supner that should be obvious from the illustration as shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 shows another form of the invention having an actuating member l8 similar to member ID or of any other suitable shape as above mentioned, but showing supporting member I9 for actuating member 18 in the form of a coiled wire having one end secured to member l8 and the opposite end extending through an opening in flange 5 of top member 2 and rigidly secured to said flange 5. Member I9 supports actuating member I8 in a position for convenient manual operation to move downwardly for rocking plate sections 8 on their pivots into open position in the same manner as the construction disclosed in Fig. 1.

Figs. 8, 9 and illustrate another form of the invention in which the actuating member and support therefor are in substantially one piece. The actuating member is indicated at 20 and is formed of a piece of sheet metal having a supporting section 2i of arcuate shape in cross section, having a depending section 22 at one end forming an actuating member for plate sections 8. Actuating member 22 is arranged to extend transversely to the adjacent straight edges of plate sections 8 in the same manner as actuating member H3 and has the lower end normally positioned to be in contiguous relation poised above plate sections 8 in the closed position thereof ready for depression to rock said plate sections into the open position. Member 22 is of less width than the distance between pivots 9.

Supporting section 2| is made in the arcuate form shown in Fig. 10 for the purpose of providing a rest for cigarettes, cigars and the like in its normal position as shown in Fig. 9. The end opposite projection 22 extends over top section 5 as shown in Figs. 8 and 9 and has a portion 40 struck out of the central part of the strip formed to provide hinge member 23 receiving hinge pin 24 carried by a pair of spaced hinge sections 25 formed at the upper end of plate 26. Plate 26 is secured by any suitable means to the inner face 45 of flange 5 of top section 2 in order to mount member 20 in the position shown in Figs. 8 and 9.

A coil spring indicated at 21 in Fig. 10 may be placed about pivot pin 24 and arranged to have one end extend downwardly ov'er plates 26 as 50 shown at 28 in Fig. 10 while the other end extends outwardly underneath section 2! as indicated at 29. This spring is arranged to normally move member 2| on its hinge mounting into the upper position shown in Fig. 9, a stop mem- 55 ber 30 on the free end of section 2| engaging top members 3 to limit operation of member 20 so that it is stopped in the position shown in Fig. 9.

Manual engagement of the inner end of stop 60 section 20 over depending projection 22 forming the actuating member, and downward pressing movement thereon, will rock member 20 on its pivot connection with top section 2 and move actuating member 22 downwardly to rock plate 5 sections 8 from the closed to the open position. In this way any of the structures shown and. described above will operate to discharge ashes or other refuse placed on top of the plate sections into the receiver as the plates move into the open 70 position. When the actuating member is released, the support therefor will move the actuating member back to its normal position and allow plate sections 8 to move into their closed position for closing the receptacle and covering its con- 75 tents. Section 2| forms an individual support for cigarettes, and the like, in addition to providing the actuating member in a one piece structure, but otherwise operates in a substantially similar manner to the other forms of the invention above described.

The invention claimed is:

1. An ash receiver comprising a receptacle having an opening, a closure for said opening having a pair of sections normally in closed position, means mounting said sections for rocking movement, an actuating member for said sections, and a resilient member carried by said receptacle independent of said closure sections normally supporting said actuating member in a position poised over adjacent portions of said sections, spaced from and independent of other parts of said receiver for manual movement to engage and rock said sections out of said closed position.

2. An ash receiver comprising a receptacle having an opening at the top, a closure for said opening having a pair of sections extending across the upper portion of said receptacle normally in position to close said opening, means mounting said sections for rocking movement, an actuating member for said sections, and flexible means secured to said actuating member at one end and connected to the receptacle at the other end for normally supporting said actuating member in the opening in said receptacle poised above adjacent portions of said sections for manual movement to operate and rock both sections into open position.

3. An ash receiver, comprising a receptacle having an opening, a closure for said opening having a pair of sections, means mounting said sections for rocking movement, an actuating member for said sections, and a flexible supporting member connected to said receptacle above the closure at one end, projecting inwardly and supporting said actuating member at the other end in spaced relation to said receptacle in said opening over adjacent portions of said sections for manual operation of said actuating member with flexing of said supporting member to rock said sections into open position.

4. An ash receiver, comprising a receptacle open at the top, a closure for said opening having a pair of sections normally in closed position and mounted for rocking movement, an actuating member, and a length of resilient wire connected at one end to said actuating member and at the opposite end to said receptacle, said wire normally supporting said actuating member in a position poised above said. sections for manual operation to engage adjacent portions of said sections and move them to open position.

5. An ash receiver, comprising a receptacle open at the top, a closure for said opening having a pair of sections normally in closed position and mounted for rocking movement, an actuating member, and an elongated resilient member supported by said receptacle and carrying said actuating member in inwardly spaced relation from the periphery of said receptacle in position poised above adjacent portions of said sections for manual depression to move said sections from closed position toward open position.

6. An ash receiver, comprising a receptacle open at the top, a closure for said opening having a pair of sections cooperating to normally close said opening and mounted on spaced parallel axes for independent rocking movement, an actuating member, and a resilient member supported at opposite ends by said receptacle and carrying said actuating member at an intermediate portion over adjacent portions of said sections for manual depression to move both sections simultaneously toward open position.

7. An ash receiver, comprising a receptacle open at the top, a closure for said opening having a pair of sections cooperating to normally close said opening and mounted on spaced parallel axes for independent rocking movement, a button, and a support for said button carried by said receptacle and projecting over said closure sections to support said button at a position spaced inwardly from the side of said receptacle over adjacent portions of said sections, said support being movable with manual depression of said button whereby said button engages said sections between said axes and rocks said sections toward a position to uncover the opening into said receptacle, said support being formed to provide a rest for cigarettes and the like.

8. An ash receiver, comprising a receptacle open at the top, a closure for said opening having a pair of sections, means mounting at least one of said sections for rocking movement, a button, and iiexible supporting means for said button carried by said receptacle at one side of said opening, projecting inwardly over said sections, supporting said button over an edge of said movable section, and flexing varying amounts progressing from said receptacle with said button upon manual engagement of said button to rock said movable section toward open position.

9. An ash receiver, comprising a receptacle having an opening at the top, a closure for said opening having a pair of sections mounted in the topof said receptacle for rocking movement and normally closing said opening, a rim on said receptacle projecting above said closure sections, a flexible member extending across the opening at the top of said receptacle above adjacent portions of said closure sections, an actuating member mounted on said flexible member and manually depressible to engage and move said closure sections into open position, said rim and flexible 0 member cooperating to support cigarettes and similar articles across the top of said receptacle.

EDWARD F. MCDONALD. 

